Getting Behind the Scenes

Last weekend was the annual Members' Gathering of the Grand Canyon Association.  This was my first opportunity to attend a series of programs, lectures and tours.  I drove out Friday morning, checked in for my campsite at Mather, and headed off to join a group volunteering for the vegetation program.  Did you know that the South Rim has its own nursery?  I had toured it a few years ago with the Sierra Club, and it was fun to see again.

Our group of 18 volunteers plus a couple of GCA reps planted 1205 tubes of mutton grass seeds.  All of this native grass will later be planted in various places around the rim.

Poa fendleriana - Mutton Grass



I later attended a program by Mike Bucheit.  I have seen his amazing photography for years and was very happy to meet him and see his slide show.  He has incredible photographs of remote canyon places I will never otherwise see, along with an engaging and interesting narrative.

It was rather a long night of car camping - just trying to get comfortable in the back of the Jeep and stay warm.  I left the windows open a bit to enjoy the fresh air and the sound of the wind in the trees.  About 2 a.m., it was so chilly that I didn't want to come out of my cocoon to close the windows.  I forced myself to emerge, but of course then I had to pee and well, I'll spare the details...

A few more great programs on Saturday, including a geology talk by Wayne Ranney and a tour of the Emergency Services facilities.  I wanted to see all of that without needing to see all of that.  Quite impressive, as we toured the facilities and had close-up views of ambulances, fire trucks and other emergency equipment.  We learned about land, air and water rescues.  The people doing this work are amazing - from treating doofuses (doofi?) who attempt long hikes on hot days while wearing flipflops and carrying 6 ounces of water, to performing search/rescue/recovery operations while putting their own safety at risk.  There is enormous cost (both in money and manpower) to mount an air rescue ($3600/hour just to operate a helicopter), a minimum of 8 people to carry someone out on a litter.  They were all dedicated to preventing emergencies, highly trained and ready to roll.  I was very impressed but at the same time, hope I never see any of them again!

    A sparkling fire truck is ready to respond to structural

    or vehicle fires (wild land fires are handled through a

    different facility).

After this tour, I got picked up by the park superintendent.  Ha!  I was walking to a bus stop for transport to my next event, when he came along and gave a ride to me and another woman heading to the campground.  Very nice gentleman who came to the Grand Canyon from Mt. Rainier just 9 months ago.  I cannot imagine the responsibility of caring for such a park, but I believe he is up to the task and cares deeply about preserving and protecting this magnificent place.

I had some time later in the day to spend along the rim (with thousands of others - this was about the most crowded I've ever seen the canyon).  I was lucky enough to see two adult and one juvenile condors!  I had never seen a juvenile there before, and was told it was hatched in the Canyon - which is why it had no wing tag as yet - had not been captured and tagged.

Juvenile Condor - sex and age unknown.  Juveniles have

 a dark head  - and a face only a mother could love?

    Adult female #55, born in captivity 5/07, released into

    the wild 3/09

#55 takes flight

Everything at the Canyon was booked solid - all campgrounds, cabins, lodges...I was unable to get anything for Saturday night so I decided to head back to Sedona.  I made my way down East Rim Drive, stopping at several viewpoints along the way.  I don't get over that way much and I should - the views are just as amazing and it is generally much less crowded.  I watched the sunset at Desert View and hit the road for home.  I hated skipping out on a few other events, but will make a point to return next year - and not procrastinate on reservations!

Between a rock and a hard place    

I am drawn to this place again and again. Compared to many of the "Canyon-Heads" I met last weekend, I am but a casual observer. That's ok. I'll take what it has to give, return as often as I can, and dream of adventures in a place that must be seen to be believed. 

Sunset from Desert View

Getting Back to Nature

Well, here I am.  A resident of Red Rock country.  Sedona, AZ.  Recently voted "The Most Beautiful Place in America."  No argument there.  Does it feel like home yet?  No.  Are the boxes gone?  No.  Have I bought furniture yet?  No.

I still feel in sort of a state of limbo.  A fleeting thought here and there of "when I get back" or "before I leave" - and then I realize that I'm not going back.  I'm not sure the boxes will ever be gone - I've run out of places to put things (gee, maybe there should be fewer things?).  Have not bought any furniture.  Stores here are few and far between.  Being indecisive means repeated trips to stores an hour away, not knowing what I want and not finding anything exciting.  Oh well - I do have my bed and a patio chair.

I'm finally getting back out on the trails, and soaking up all that Sedona has to offer.  I'm constantly amazed at what grows here, the diversity of plants and trees.  I hiked in Jacks Canyon on Wednesday, not far from the house.  If you would see this trail during other times of year, it would not seem to have much to offer.  There is little shade, and in summer it can be a very hot hike.  But today?  In a round trip of about 5.5 miles, I saw more than 30 different kinds of wildflowers blooming.  From the monochromatic Cream Cups to the deep blue of Larkspur, more of that fabulous Antelope Horn (milkweed) that I saw the other day.  Orange Globemallow, fuchsia Penstemon, purple Goodings Verbena, Scarlet Bugler...and countless different yellows. 

     Mexican Goldpoppies bloom against a charred trunk

        - remnant of a wildfire in this area a few years ago

Indian Paintbrush - always a

favorite of mine

My usual stopping point on this hike is at the "tank" - a watering hole about 2 miles into the canyon.  It's always been a good place to sit in the shade of a juniper and watch the birds that come by.  Always hope for thirsty mammals to show up, but none ever have.  Approaching the rim of the tank, I try to be quiet so that I don't scare off any critters.  The surprise was on me this time - the tank is dry!  Only a couple of mud puddles remain.  This is the first time I've seen it dried up and this early in the year, that is not a good sign. 

The tank is high and dry...

I did take a rest in the shade, and then decided to hike a bit further into the canyon.  Wow, I'm glad I did!  It's obvious that this part of the trail is not well-traveled.  It becomes narrow and sandy, crossing several dry washes.  The canyon walls rise up, the trees grow taller, the only sounds are the birds and the breeze through the treetops.  Beautiful, just beautiful.  Next time, I'll continue farther and see what's around the next bend.  And the next.

There was some great raptor action along the trail today as well.  A Coopers Hawk was chasing a Red-Tailed Hawk.  A short time later, several flycatchers were chasing a Coopers Hawk.  A life-list bird for me as well, a Lark Sparrow.  Yay!

Also saw my first snake of the year, on the way back.  Some sort of orange and black thing.  I tapped my trusty hiking stick, and it slithered back into its snaky space.  I know my snake-ophile friends are tsk-tsking at this, but I don't care.  I don't like snakes, I don't want to see snakes.  I'm sure there will be more, but I hope I can always spot them before our encounters become too close.  There's been a large beetle-y thing flitting around at the house.  Thanks to good ol' Google, I found out that it is a Tarantula Hawk.  There is actually an insect that preys on Tarantulas!  As I like Tarantulas about as much as I like snakes, that would seem to be a good thing.  On the other hand, that insect is scary enough on its own!

A few events coming up - a condor lecture at Red Rock State Park, a Cinco de Mayo celebration, a native plant expo at a local nursery.  I've applied to be a volunteer ranger with the city of Sedona, and waiting for the background check to be completed.  I hope to fill my time learning more about my new world, and volunteering when I can.  I miss my daughter terribly.  I miss my friends terribly.  I miss my "old" life.  I am grateful for the sweet company of Otis - he's a good listener - when he doesn't have his head in a bag of lettuce!

In time, I suppose this new life will be a good fit and the change will be less painful.  For now, I'll count the wildflowers, chase the birds, enjoy the warmth and try to adjust to my new world.  And maybe get rid of a box or two as well...

My favorite lines from William Blake's "Auguries of Innocence:"

To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.